Balanced, authoritative, and up to date, this volume examines the profound effects of economic globalization on the well-being of individuals and communities in both developed and less-developed societies. Using a variety of research methods and conceptual tools, leading experts from a range of disciplines trace the complex interactions of globalization with social, political, and health and welfare processes around the world. Compelling findings are presented on "winners" and "losers" across national boundaries, regions, class and ethnic divisions, gender, and age; the ways in which different groups have mobilized to respond to globalization's challenges; and the important policy questions raised. Also considered is the crucial question of whether globalization can adequately be addressed from the perspective of contemporary social scientific theory, or whether it requires a new paradigm for analysis.